Success with the Violin and Life: Strategies, Techniques & Tips for Learning Quickly and Doing Well (Violin Success Series) (Volume 1)

Most people are spending more time and effort than is needed when practicing the violin. Learning violin skills and techniques can be easier than you might think! Whether it is playing faster, shifting confidently, developing a fine vibrato, or perfecting your spiccato, seasoned violin/viola teacher, Ruth Shilling, shares with you concepts, strategies and tips that will put you on the shortest, easiest route to your goals. And an added benefit is that these same success principles and skills can be applied to the rest of your life, too!

There are step-by-step strategies for solving difficulties as well as exercises to improve your overall technique. Memorable mini-stories from the author s own experiences help you remember key concepts and principles, and it's all in an easy to read format, including an index, so that you can either browse quickly through or read what you want to know in more depth.

This book is for you:

• Music students playing violin, viola, cello or bass
• Parents helping your children succeed--instilling capability and confidence
• Adult string players upgrading your skills and technique
• Music teachers looking for some fresh ideas

The Best Strategy: Least Amount of Effort Shortest Amount of Time

There are strategies and techniques for:

• Vibrato arm, wrist, finger, sound-idea concept
• Rhythms & using the metronome more easily & effectively
• Improving tone, musicality and phrasing
• Three types of memorizing and ways to combine them
• Auditioning well, performing at your best
• Getting the most out of your practice time
• Playing faster and more accurately
• Shifting between positions with confidence
• and so much more!

Some of the principles and concepts included are:

• Building from success to success
• Goals and the most direct route
• Evaluating which skill sets are needed
• Meeting challenges
• Creating desired outcomes
• Updating and upgrading
• Teachers & mentors, groups & tribes
• Entrainment and sympathetic resonance

Some of the mini-stories included:

• "I can't play it fast enough"
• Breaking a Habit
• Playing with Itzhak Perlman
• Playing through her fear
• Mother Teresa Comes to Boston
• "He is happy to have me play the violin now"
• Playing with "Baba" Olatunji
• A Teacher who got Results
• Using a Vacation from the Violin to his Advantage
• Playing with Ray Charles
• Hearing the Brahms Requiem in a New Way

Find more information about this book at successviolin.com.